Multiple steering head tricycle



Oct. 20, 1953 B. F. LEBER 2,656,197

MULTIPLE STEERING HEAD TRICYCLE Filed Aug. 25. 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR. B ywnm I? Leber Oct. 20, 1953 B. F. LEBER MULTIPLE STEERING HEAD TRICYCLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1949 IN VEN TOR. amin F Leber Oct. 20, 1953 B. F. LEBER 6, 7

MULTIPLE STEERING HEAD TRICYCLE Filed Aug. 25, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet s IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII(IIZ"O j linnuunni/ IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR. Bgg'amini? Leber Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED PATENT. OFFICE Application August25, 1949, Serial No. 112,260 r 1 C. I This invention relates. to tricycles andother cycles. 7 Childrens pedaled tricycles are conventionally made in four frame sizes to coverthe age range from about 2 to about 6 years. 1

It is an object of my. invention to. provide a tricycle in which the wheel base is variable, ,enabling the same tricycle structure to accommodate a child throughout anage range heretofore requiring the purchase of a plurality of tricycles of different sizes.

It is also an objectto provide a tricycleframe having a plurality of sleeves at different distances forward of theseat post. position and adapted selectively to accommodate the tricycle steering post. p.

.A further object is to provide a frame constructed to accommodate. a steering. post at any of a plurality of distances from the seat post position, without necessitating variation of the position of the frame relative to the ground.

It is another object of. my invention-taprovide a tricycle construction which willenable the purchaser to convert the same interchangeably from a smallersize pedal tricycle to a larger one and vice-versa, without addition or subtraction of any part, thereby obviating the necessity 4 for using different-sized frames and differentsized front wheels and front forks and thus reducing the cost of manufacture and the cost to the purchaser. I

Another object isto providea frame of the character referred to which is of extremely simple and sturdy construction, and which may be manufactured at low cost and will adequately perform any or all of the foregoing functions.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention will be better understood upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which: a I

Fig. l is-a side elevational view of a tricycle constructed in accordance with one form of my invention. v

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged side view partly in section and partly in elevation, of the forward part of the frame and associated structure appearing in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan sectional view taken as indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4. is a front elevational viewtaken asindicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view taken as indicated by the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 6-6 in Fig. l.

. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 'll in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view. by the line 88 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of a modified frame.

a a asjindicated 2 Referring now more particularly to the drawings, showing exemplary forms of the invention, I have indicated generally at 2!] a tricycle comprising a frame 22 which may take various forms and is here shown as comprising a backbone 2d welded as at 26 to a bow 28 whose arms 3i! accommodate the rear axle 32 on which the rear wheels 34 are mounted. The backbone 24 has a hole 56 in which the post 33 of a seat to; is accommodated, the seat being held at any desired up or down adjustment as by a set screw :22. The forepart 44 of thevframe 22 may be of any suitable construction to provide two or more steering post receiving openings in tandem and may be formed for example of a pair of mating sheet metal members 46 and 47 joined together at suitable places as. by spot-welding 48 and to provide front and rear bearing sleeves 5E3 and 52 separated by a gusset 54, and formed with additional upper and lower gussets 56 extending from the rear sleeve to a rearwardly extending socket 6G in. which the forward end .62 of the backbone 24 is hydrogen-brazed as at E4 or otherwise integrally secured, and with their front margins 66 united. The sleeves 5B and 52 have upper and. lower flanges 68 and i0, providing bearing surfaces.

The fork l2 at the front wheel. 13 may be fashioned in any suitable way and is here shown as formed of a single piece of sheet metal, the arms M of which are integral with the stem. H3. The stem 18 is bent into cylindrical form to have bearing engagement selectively in either of the bearing sleeves 50 and 52, the longitudinal margins of the stem abutting each other and formed with mating dove-tail sockets l8 and projections St or otherwise suitably connected so as to be firmly interlocked. When the stem :8 is formed, a collar 82 is slipped over and about the free end of the stem and forced therealong until it is in abutment with the ni ht 84 of the fork l2 and tightly embraces the stem. The rear bearing sleeve 52 is provided to accommodate the stem 76 when the tricycle is to be used by a smaller child, and the front bearing sleeve 50 is provided to accommodate the stem when the tricycle is to be used by a relatively larger child. For example, if the smaller child is within the 2 to 3 year range, the larger child would be within the 3 to 4 year range, all within reasonable. limits. With a larger front wheel and a larger frame having two bearing sleeves in tandem, the rear bearing sleeve would be used for the child in the 4 to 5 year group, and the front sleeve would be used for the child in the 5 to 6 year group. In assembling the parts, the fork stem 16 is inserted upward into either sleeve 5i) or 52 until the collar 82 engages the lower flange 10 of the sleeve. The stem i6 is of such length that its upper end 8 6 will project substantially above the uppenflange 580i the sleeve... The

protruding stem end 86 is formed with a hole 88 to allow. the point 90 of a set, screw 92, threaded in a collar 94 snugly fitted about said stem end, to force the steering post 96, to which the handle bars 98 are connected, into tight engagement with the stem I6 and the stem in turn into tight engagement with the sleeve 52 (or 50, as. the case may be). The collars 82 and 9.4 have bearing engagement with the respective top and bottom flanges 68 and II? of the selected sleeve.

With the fork l2 assembled with the rear sleeve 52, the wheel base length is as shown in :68 in Fig. 1. With the fork I2 assembled with the front sleeve 50, the wheel base would be substantially longer, as indicated at I02 in Fig. l. The circle IN is the locus of the axes of the pedals I85 when the fork I2 is in the position shown in full lines relative to the frame 22. When the stern i6 is assembled in the front sleeve 55, the front wheel I3 is in the position indicated by the-circle Hi3 and the locus of the pedal axes is indicated by the circle I I0, providing increased distance of the pedals from the seat ii to accommodate a larger child.

The front and rear sleeves 5t and 52 may be so arranged that their lower flanges it occupy the same position relative to the ground lie, when the frame 22 is used with front and rear wheels of predetermined sizes, so that the position of the frame is the same regardless whether the fork stem I6 is assembled with one sleeve or the other. The sleeves 50 and 52 in such case are parallel, and in any event should be so inclined in service that the proper angle of the steering post 96 is maintained irrespective of the adjustment of the fork I2 in relation to the frame 22.

The sleeve not in use may be suitably covered, as by caps H6 removably held in place as by a bolt H8 and a nut I20.

If desired, the sleeved portion of the frame may be shielded by a suitable shroud (not shown).

In accordance with another form of my invention, shown in Fig. 9, I may provide a frame lit whose backbone I23 is of such diameter as to surround the intermediate portions of the tandem front and rear sleeves I22 and I2 i adapted selectively to receive the fork stem '16 and steering post 98 as in the form of the invention'above described. To this end, the backbone l'it is preferably tubular and is formed with front and rear sets of diametrically opposite upper and lower holes I26 and I28 through which the sleeves I22 and I24 project, said sleeves preferably having top and bottom flanges HI! and Its corresponding to the flanges 68 and it above described and hydrogen-brazed as at I32 or otherwise suitably secured to the backbone. The axis of the holes I26 and I28 and hence of the sleeves I22 and I213 are preferably parallel to each other and so arranged that when the frame II8 is assembled with small rear wheels and a substantially larger front wheel, the bottom surfaces I34 of the sleeves are in the same relation to the ground or other support on which the tricycle rests, so that the steering post will extend at the proper steer ng inclination to the vertical, said inclination being the same regardless whether the front sleeve or the rear sleeve is used. Of course said axes may be at an angle to each other if the sleeve bottoms are arranged in corresponding different relations to a vehicle support when the frame is incorporated in the vehicle. A cap I35 may be drivefitted or otherwise secured so as to close the front end of the backbone I20, and, if desired, the sleeved portions may be shrouded.

I Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

. I claim:

1. A cycle frame comprising a forepart formed with a pair of front and rear identical cylindrical steering post receiving holes in which a steering post is selectively receivable, whereby, with the same frame, a cycle may be adjusted to accommodate selectively riders of dilierent sizes, said forepart comprising a pair of mating plates, each having a pair of parallel front and rear semicylindrical depressions, a depression extending backward from the rear depression, gussets between the last two depressions, and a gusset between said pair of depressions, the respective gussets of said plates being welded together to define said parallel holes and to define a socket extending backward from said rear depression.

2. A cycle frame comprising a forepart formed with a pair of front and rear identical cylindrical steering post receiving holes in which a steering post is selectively receivable, whereby, with the same frame, a cycle may be adjusted to accommodate selectively riders of different sizes, said forepart comprising a pair of mating plates each having a pair of parallel front and rear semicylindrical depressions and a depression extending backward from the rear depression, said plates being welded together to define parallel holes and to define a socket extending backward from said rear depressions, and a backbone whose forward end is welded in said socket.

3. A cycle frame comprising a forepart formed with a pair of front and rear identical cylindrical steering post receiving holes in which a steering post isselectively receivable, whereby, with the same frame, a cycle may be adjusted to accommodate selectively riders of different sizes, said forepart comprising a pair of mating plates, each having a pair of parallel front and rear semicylindrical depressions and a depression extend ing backward from the rear depression, said plates being welded together to define parallel holes and to define a socket extending backward from said rear depressions, said plates having parallel semiannular flanges at both ends of each of said pair of front and rear depressions, said flanges defining annular parallel top and bottom bearing surfaces at the ends of said holes.

4. A cycle frame having a forepart comp-rising a pair of mating plates welded together and affording front and rear holes adapted selectively to accommodate a steering post and also affording a socket extending rearward from the rear hole to accommodate the forward end of a backbone member.

BENJAMIN F. LEBER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,766,254 Kearney June 24, 1930 1,813,639 Richards July 7, 1931 2,006,618 Anderson July 2, 1935 2,157,971 Snell May 9 1939 2,167,021 Anderson July 25, 1939 2,310,064 Conti Feb 2, 1943 2,503,733 Heller Apr. 11, 1950 

